If you’re as bitter and cynical and long-memoried as MCFly, you’ll remember dozens (no exag) of groups in the period 2007 to 2010 that set up shop in Manchester with bright shiny faces and bright shiny promises and… where are they now? For some (all?) of them “inclusivity” was one of their big problems. This workshop below may be part of not making the same mistakes in quite the same way again, if/when the roulette wheel that is public attention comes around to climate change another time.

Can you think of a time when you were part of a group but you ‘didn’t
quite fit’ or found it hard to join in conversations or activities? Do
you feel like it is always the same people doing most of the work in
your group? Have you been in a group where people come a few times then
drop out and nobody knows why?

Most of us have experienced these situations at some point in our
lives, it’s quite normal, but it doesn’t have to be this way! We are
more than capable of becoming aware of how groups operate and making
changes so they are more inclusive. In an inclusive group everybody
should feel welcome, valued and able to participate and shape the
group. There are obviously lots of ethical reasons for why it’s a good
thing to be inclusive. Strategically speaking it also means there are
more people having ownership of the campaign – who then contribute more
different ideas and do more stuff.

In this participatory workshop we’ll look at the everyday behaviours
people exhibit in groups and the consequences this has. We’ll think
(privately) about groups we’re in and create action plans for
inclusivity.

The workshop is on Saturday 29th March, from 10.30 – 4.30 in Manchester
MERCi / Bridge 5 Mill (http://www.merci.org.uk/) in East Manchester.
Ideally we’d like you to come with one or two other people from your
campaign group but this isn’t essential. Let us know if you’d like to
attend and if you have any specific needs big or small by emailing:sharon@seedsforchange.org.uk

My experience has been that a lot of people come to groups with problems that they want other people to solve. I think that all members of groups should be encouraged to highlight problems – but only if they can suggest some possible solutions – which they are prepared to take (at least some) ownership of.

Please sign the “Declare a Climate Emergency” petition

"We the undersigned petition the Council to declare a climate emergency, with a target to be "zero carbon" by the year 2030, with a proportionate share of Manchester Airports emissions (35.5 percent owned by the Council) included in the carbon budget it sets."
If you live, work or study in Manchester, you can sign the petition - it's here-
https://democracy.manchester.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?Id=20